rodriguez's albums flopped in the u.s. somehow, though, his first album "cold fact" made it halfway around the world and became a massive hit. >> in south africa, he was in the pantheon of rock gods. >> to us, it was one of the most famous records of all time. >> the soundtrack of the antiapartheid revolution, fueling movement. but at home in detroit, rodriguez had no idea. he had given up his music career. that was four decades ago. >> you used to play right across the street, right? >> i played at a lot of places in detroit. >> unaware of his fame abroad and getting no royalties, he lived on little. raising his daughters doing demolition work. >> i'm not a stranger to hard work. >> he made failed bids for mayor, city council, and city rep. >> you call yourself a musical political? >> yeah, i don't see how someone can't be. >> at 57, he was rediscovered by a south african music journalist when they found clues in his lyrics. they brought rodriguez to south africa, and he played to thousands of adoring fans. >> thanks for